Summary. This course will be an introduction to three of the fundamental topics of Western philosophy:

• God. Can we prove the existence of God, either from evidence about the world or from pure reason? Does the prospect of eternal reward make belief in God rational? Can we disprove the existence of God? Is the existence of God compatible with the amount and kind of evil which exists in the world? Does rationality require that we have reasons for believing in God?
• The self. Are persons identical with immaterial souls? Are persons material objects? How are persons related to consciousness, or memory? What is it for a person to continue to exist through time? Does personal identity matter?
• Skepticism. Is our habit of reasoning by induction justified? Are our habits of ascribing moral properties to agents and holding them morally responsible undermined by the reliance of moral properties on luck?

A principal aim of the course will be to teach students to recognize and produce good arguments. We will spend a bit of time at the beginning of the course, and occasionally throughout, discussing what good arguments are, and why they might be worth pursuing.

Requirements. The course has no prerequisites, and is intended to serve students with an interest, but no university level background, in philosophy. The course should also be suitable for students with some background in philosophy interested in the questions to be discussed in the course.

Texts. There are two required texts: a course pack (available at the McGill Bookstore), and John Perry’s A Dialogue on Personal Identity and Immortality (available at Paragraphe Books). The readings will also be on reserve in the library.

”McGill University values academic integrity. Therefore all students must understand the meaning and consequences of cheating, plagiarism and other academic offences under the Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures (see http://www.mcgill.ca/integrity for more information).”

”L’université McGill attache une haute importance à l'honnêteté académique. Il incombe par conséquent à tous les étudiants de comprendre ce que l’on entend par tricherie, plagiat et autres infractions académiques, ainsi que les conséquences que peuvent avoir de telles actions, selon le Code de conduite de l’étudiant et des procédures disciplinaires (pour de plus amples renseignements, veuillez consulter le site http://www.mcgill.ca/integrity).”